An open letter to Amaranth Council, re: Curbside Garbage Pick up

Although I spoke at council last month, it seems my sentiments fell on deaf ears. Council had their mind made up that they were going to fall in line with Sandhill Disposal's desire to increase their profit without any thought as to whether curbside pick up was good for residents of Amaranth or not.

Some, admittedly, will be happy. They no longer have to pay for private pick up. However, the overwhelming majority of your constituents I have spoken to have voiced that pick up is neither welcome nor necessary in Amaranth. For instance, what do you do with 2 WEEKS worth of stinky diapers if you have a couple of kids? What are the seniors supposed to do if they can't make it to the curb?

It makes me wonder whether council did any research (other than the Honourable Mayor Don MacIvor's flawed model of CO2 emission savings) into curb-side pick up or whether you simply had a meeting with Sandhill who said they had a half-empty truck doing green bin pick up. They may have said, "We'll give you a great deal!" and council got swept up in their enthusiasm.

But for how long do we have a great deal? What happens after our one year contract is up when Sandhill comes in with a huge increase in cost? Can we go back to the old system of taking our own garbage to our own landfill? I would hope so.

Council and Amaranth residents know; No one wants to "rock the boat". We're a quiet people but, unsolicited, 60 people specifically asked me to voice their opposition! "It makes NO SENSE!", some have said. For council, I have attached the list of people's names and telephone numbers. Most of them are strangers to me and have read about my opposition to curb-side pick up in the papers or heard by word of mouth.

I also know that you, council, have received numerous complaints directly via other avenues. I trust these will be reflected in your "performance measures" for 2007 along with the 60 I am enclosing.

Do not remove the garbage bins after October 10, 2007 because this issue is far from over.

Joan Train

p.s. Although His Honour, Mayor MacIvor assured me during the September 7th meeting that I would get a response from council to my last letter, I have yet to receive one. I am looking forward hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.

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I am forwarding on a letter that the Town of Mono received in regards to curbside collection. With some of the negative letters that have been in the paper lately it would be nice if you could print this letter. I am sure the collection drivers would appreciate it.

Linda Robinson

Recycling Coordinator

Town of Mono

I would just like to complement the people who do the garbage, recycling and compost pick-up on our street. They take everything with them including items that get blown out of recycling boxes and are laying on the ground.

They also put the boxes back in a reasonable way, standing upright and sometimes stacked together. It may not seem like a big deal, but the street looks better and the collection boxes stay in better condition when they are not thrown around.

We moved up from outside Brampton last year and there is a big improvement in the quality of the service.

If you have the chance please pass this along to them please do so, they are doing a really good job.

Many thanks, Greg & Debby Panke

Mono